Like most other pests, bed bugs proliferate during the summer and hibernate in winter. But since they live indoors, they can bite you anytime, irrespective of the season – though less often in the colder months. 

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are flat, tiny oval-shaped insects that mostly infest beds, curtains, cushions, carpets, and other soft furnishings. They grow 4-6 mm long and have a reddish-brown colour. These parasites live solely on human blood and can even go without it for several months.

Are bed bugs a seasonal pest?

Bed bugs behave differently in different climatic conditions. They are more active when the weather gets warmer. In spring and summer, they feed frequently, breed rapidly and travel long distances by hitching rides on travellers. 

As the temperature drops, their metabolism slows down. They feed occasionally and become dormant gradually. They even stop breeding when the weather gets colder. Therefore, bed bugs prefer to hide in their shelter for as long as possible in the wintertime without even risking shifting their habitat. As bed bugs stay within the confines of your room at a favourable temperature, they remain active throughout the year. That’s why in the UAE, bed bug bites are reported every season. However, new infestations are generally seen in the spring and summer seasons, between the months of April and August. 

What causes bed bug infestations to rise in summer in the UAE?

There are many reasons for this, such as:

  • Warmer weather
  • Humidity
  • Increased travelling
  • Summer vacation (students vacate their dorms and return to their homes)

All these factors provide bed bugs with favourable conditions to thrive and settle in other places. 

When is the right season for bed bug extermination?

Warmer months allow bed bugs to come out of their shelter in search of a host. So, treatments during this time will be more effective as the bed bugs will come into direct contact with the traps or chemicals. 

During winters, they hibernate in their harborage, and won’t come out for a blood meal very often. Chemicals may not be a good option here, but heat treatments will work. Let your pest control expert decide on it. 

For pest control, there is no good or bad season for bed bug treatment. The moment you see an infestation, you must seek professional help instead of using a DIY solution. There are many bed bug pest control experts in your neighbourhood in Dubai, use your discretion to find the best.